Marketing
Marketing Career Overview
A career in marketing can be a challenging but rewarding endeavor. Coveted positions are usually competitive to obtain and still require long hours. Marketing professionals must also shoulder a large part of the hefty responsibility of a company's sales numbers and subsequent revenue stream. However, researching, designing and implementing marketing campaigns is also a fun and sociable way to earn a good living. Top marketing executives earn up to six figures annually. Marketing careers also span an array of titles and industries, providing something for almost everyone.
Marketing Training & Education
Almost all marketing positions require candidates to have a minimum of a bachelor's degree in marketing; however candidates with an MBA in marketing will have a definite competitive advantage and earn significantly more money.
Marketing firms also say that taking additional courses in business law, management, economics, accounting, finance, mathematics, and statistics are advantageous. It is also highly recommended that candidates participate in an internship to gain real world experience.
Marketing Career & Salary Outlook
Marketing encompasses a range of careers and positions; earnings vary with each one of these. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in May of 2006, median annual earnings were $73,060 for advertising and promotions managers and $98,720 for marketing managers.
Marketing professionals employed in different industries received differing median annual earnings; computer systems design and related services ($119,540), management of companies and enterprises ($103,070), management, scientific, and technical consulting services ($100,200), architectural, engineering, and related services ($92,480) and depository credit intermediation ($91,420).
Characteristics of Successful Marketers
Marketing is a dynamic field that requires someone to keep up with and adapt their company's marketing strategy to ever changing consumer opinions. This and other factors can make the nature of the work quite stressful at times. A company's sales numbers often heavily depend on how successful a marketing campaign is and this directly affects the bottom line. This puts a lot of pressure on marketing professionals to work hard and make to right decisions.
Marketing professionals also usually work with top-level executives and travel frequently to investigate expanding markets. Professionals also tend to work long hours including during nights and weekends. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics two thirds of marketing professionals worked more than a 40-hour week in 2006.
All these points require marketing professionals to be extremely dedicated individuals who truly enjoy their work. Marketing professionals must also be creative in order to design effective campaigns but must also have an analytical mind to accurately interpret the data from market research studies.
Career Fields/Specializations
Market Researcher Career
Market researchers conduct in-depth studies that estimate the demand for their company's product or service as well as the demand for their company's competition. Market researchers also identify potential markets such as business firms, wholesalers, retailers, government, or the public in general.
Product Developer Career
Product developers work with technical staff to create and develop products that will appeal to their company's target market.
Promotions Specialist Career
Promotions specialists are what most people think of when they think of a career in marketing. These professionals work with advertising specialists to create and develop campaigns, advertisements, and other media to try and sell a company's product or service on a wide scale. They create marketing plans based on the data received from the studies done by market researchers.
Marketing Manager Career
Marketing managers oversee marketing operations, approve and modify campaigns and work in conjunction with advertising, public relations and sales executives.
In small companies one marketing executive may spearhead all marketing positions, whereas very large firms often have entire departments dedicated to each position.
Article ReferencesBureau of Labor Statistics
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos020.htm
American Association of Advertising Agencies
http://www.aaaa.org
New York American Marketing Association
http://www.nyama.org/
